First published August 23 2007

In any particular bad day I have habits to make myself better. One- I put on my grandmothers nightgown. Something about it just gives me peace. Its yellow, made of cotton, with white flowers. Nothing I would pick out a store to buy. But when I wear it I feel at ease. And last but not least. I make myself chamomile tea - the Mexican antidote to everything... or so I’ve been told.

And when none of that seems to work... I baby-sit my niece. Don’t underestimate the power of a child. One look at their dimples and all your troubles seem to melt away. My niece has that effect on me. I cant escape her curls, dimples, and chubby cheeks. No matter how tired or out of mind I am. She brings me back to solid ground. She's crazy and a bit of overwhelming but nonetheless my best medicine.

When she was born I was facing a lot of difficulties in my life. I was a mess. Crying if anyone just touched me or looked my way. But my niece would come around and just holding her would make me feel okay. And out of nowhere the corners of my mouth would creep up slowly even after not having smiled for days. And an adorable doing of hers would cause laughter i hadn't heard in weeks.

A child can do that. Remind you that happiness lies in the smallest of details. That life isn't and shouldn't be that complicated. And that oh-oh's are just opportunities to redo things again. That the smallest accomplishments deserve applause. That choosing to not see or not be seen is as easy as covering your eyes. And that sad moments can become happy moments by simple changing the way you look at things.

Imagine how different life would be if everyone had the mind of a child. or like in the words of Robert Fulghum:

"Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap."